Former Court of Appeal judge part of new Suhakam line-up
A former Court of Appeal judge is among those announced today as Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) commissioners for the term 2016 to 2019.
"Mah Weng Kwai was a judicial commissioner of the High Court of Malaya and subsequently a judge of the High Court of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur in 2011," Suhakam chairperson Razali Ismail told a press conference at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.
Mah was elevated to the Court of Appeal on 21 September 2012 and retired in February 2015.
A former Court of Appeal judge is among those announced today as Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) commissioners for the term 2016 to 2019.
"Mah Weng Kwai was a judicial commissioner of the High Court of Malaya and subsequently a judge of the High Court of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur in 2011," Suhakam chairperson Razali Ismail told a press conference at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.
Mah was elevated to the Court of Appeal on 21 September 2012 and retired in February 2015.
He held a variety of key positions and memberships in various professional law organisations including the Malaysian Bar president.
Mah said today he welcomed human rights training for the judiciary.
"Exposure to human rights issues and dialogues with Suhakam will most certainly help so that they (the judiciary) have knowledge of what the whole set-up is about," he said.
He added that the country may establish a human rights court one day, akin to the environmental court formed in Malaysia in 2012.
The new line-up also includes Aishah Bidin and Francis Johen, who were reappointed as Suhakam commissioners.
Aishah is a law professor at the National University of Malaysia (UKM) while Francis served as the deputy attorney-general for Sarawak from 2008 to 2011.
The other newly appointed commissioners are Lok Yim Pheng, Godfrey Gregory Joitol, Nik Salida Suhaila Nik Saleh and Jerald Joseph.
Lok is the secretary-general of both the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) and the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (CUEPACS).
Godfrey is an independent director of Sabah state government-owned company, Saham Sabah Berhad (SSB).
Nik Salida is a senior lecturer from the Faculty of Syariah and Law in University Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM).
Jerald is a board member and advisor of the anti-racism and non-discrimination programme of Pusat Komunikasi Masyarakat Sdn Bhd (Pusat KOMAS).
Meanwhile, Razali said Suhakam must be more successful in championing advancements in human rights within the country.
As a respected member of the international community, Malaysia should accede to more human rights treaties, he added.
